Columbus, Miss., Feb. 5, 2009 – Baptist Centers for Cancer Care, located at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle in Columbus, is now treating cancer patients with a new linear accelerator that performs radiation treatment much faster and more precise than standard machines and opens the door to more treatment options for physicians.

Baptist Golden Triangle is the first hospital in North Mississippi and one of only two hospitals in the state to have the Varian Trilogy System. The purchase of the system is part of a more than $5 million improvement project at Baptist Centers for Cancer Care, which also included upgrading treatment planning, delivery and electronic medical record systems. The center is located adjacent to the Baptist Outpatient Pavilion at Baptist Golden Triangle.

The new linear accelerator will benefit the patient in several ways, said Robert Jones, MD, radiation oncologist at BCCC.

“The Trilogy system can target a tumor that lies closest to the spinal cord, optic nerves, brainstem, skull base and other critical organs with pinpoint accuracy, which means better outcomes, shorter hospital stays and reduced risk of complications for the patient, he said.

It is especially beneficial to older patients who are fragile or in pain since it delivers its radiation doses at least 60 percent faster than conventional accelerators, shortening the length of time patients spend undergoing treatment, in some cases by nearly 75 percent, Dr. Jones added.

One treatment option of the Trilogy allows for radiation to be programmed to be delivered based on how a patient breathes in and out – adjusting for any tumor movement that occurs as a patient breathes. This allows the physician to choose just the exact moment to target a tumor, allowing increases to radiation doses while protecting healthy tissues.

“The Varian Trilogy at the Baptist Centers for Cancer Care allows for local residents or those in the surrounding areas to receive and benefit from this revolutionary technology right here at home without the need to travel somewhere else to receive radiation treatment,” said Pam Pickens, BCCC director.

With 328 beds, Baptist Golden Triangle is the largest regional hospital in the Baptist Memorial Health Care system. More than 100 physicians and surgeons represent almost every medical specialty practice at the hospital, which offers a full range of comprehensive medical care to patients of all ages.

In addition to the Baptist Centers for Cancer Care, the hospital offers a variety of services to the community, including hospice for the terminally ill, Baptist Behavioral Health Care-Willowbrook for those with behavioral and mental health problems, an emergency room with 24-hour ambulance service, an extensive rehabilitation department and educational programs. Baptist Golden Triangle employs more than 1,000 health care professionals.

For more information, please call 662-244-1000 or visit http://goldentriangle.baptistonline.org.

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